Display device motion exclusion from home surveillance motion detection

ABSTRACT

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for allowing a motion-detecting system to distinguish and/or mask motion that originates from a display screen. One method includes: capturing, by a computing device associated with a motion detector, an image of a field of view of the motion detector. The computing device may determine, based on object recognition, one or more candidate display areas within the image of the field of view. Based on the determined candidate display areas within the image, the computing device may generate a mask corresponding to the field of view. The computing device may exclude, from motion detection, motion occurring within the mask of the field of view.

BACKGROUND

While motion detectors may identify motion events in a camera feed andalert customers based on those events, motion detectors may notnecessarily differentiate various kinds of motion. For example, movingimages on a television display might be confused for actual motionoccurring within the room, and could result in a false triggering of analarm. It may also be burdensome, time-intensive, and impractical forcustomers to manually exclude a zone based on where the television is,or expect customers to know where reflections of the television mayexist, in order to create zones of interest for those reflections aswell.

The present disclosure may address one or more of the shortcomingsdescribed above.

SUMMARY

The following summary presents a simplified summary of certain features.The summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identifykey or critical elements.

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and non-transitory computer readablemedia are described for allowing a motion-detecting system todistinguish and/or mask motion that originates from a display screen.Object recognition may be used to identify potential display screenswithin a field of view of one or more motion-sensing camera(s). One ormore control images may be displayed on display screens within the fieldof view, and those control images may be used to determine locations ofthe display screens within the field of view. Those locations may thenbe masked and/or flagged for additional processing for future motiondetection. To determine the control images, the system may accessinformation indicating one or more video programs that are beingdisplayed, and may obtain current images from a source of those videoprograms.

These and other features and advantages are described in greater detailbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some features are shown by way of example, and not by limitation, in theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, like numerals reference similarelements.

FIG. 1 shows an example communication network on which various featuresdescribed herein may be implemented.

FIG. 2 shows an example computing device that can be used to implementany of the methods, servers, entities, and computing devices describedherein.

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary field of view for a motion detection systemdescribed herein.

FIG. 3B shows another exemplary field of view for a motion detectionsystem identifying candidate display devices.

FIG. 3C shows an exemplary field of view for a motion detection systemidentifying masked areas.

FIG. 4A is a flow chart showing an example method for excluding motionfrom display devices for motion detection systems.

FIG. 4B is another flow chart showing an example method for excludingmotion from display devices for motion detection systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, show examples ofthe disclosure. It is to be understood that the examples shown in thedrawings and/or discussed herein are non-exclusive and that there areother examples of how the disclosure may be practiced.

FIG. 1 shows an example communication network 100 in which featuresdescribed herein may be implemented. The communication network 100 maycomprise one or more information distribution networks of any type, suchas, without limitation, a telephone network, a wireless network (e.g.,an LTE network, a 5G network, a WiFi IEEE 802.11 network, a WiMAXnetwork, a satellite network, and/or any other network for wirelesscommunication), an optical fiber network, a coaxial cable network,and/or a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The communicationnetwork 100 may use a series of interconnected communication links 101(e.g., coaxial cables, optical fibers, wireless links, etc.) to connectmultiple premises 102 (e.g., businesses, homes, consumer dwellings,train stations, airports, etc.) to a local office 103 (e.g., a headend).The local office 103 may send downstream information signals and receiveupstream information signals via the communication links 101. Each ofthe premises 102 may comprise devices, described below, to receive,send, and/or otherwise process those signals and information containedtherein.

The communication links 101 may originate from the local office 103 andmay comprise components not illustrated, such as splitters, filters,amplifiers, etc., to help convey signals clearly. The communicationlinks 101 may be coupled to one or more wireless access points 127configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices 125 via one ormore wireless networks. The mobile devices 125 may comprise smartphones, tablets or laptop computers with wireless transceivers, tabletsor laptop computers communicatively coupled to other devices withwireless transceivers, and/or any other type of device configured tocommunicate via a wireless network.

The local office 103 may comprise an interface 104, such as atermination system (TS). The interface 104 may comprise a cable modemtermination system (CMTS) and/or other computing device(s) configured tosend information downstream to, and to receive information upstreamfrom, devices communicating with the local office 103 via thecommunications links 101. The interface 104 may be configured managecommunications among those devices, to manage communications betweenthose devices and backend devices such as servers 105-107 and 122,and/or to manage communications between those devices and one or moreexternal networks 109. The local office 103 may comprise one or morenetwork interfaces 108 that comprise circuitry needed to communicate viathe external networks 109. The external networks 109 may comprisenetworks of Internet devices, telephone networks, wireless networks,wireless networks, fiber optic networks, and/or any other desirednetwork. The local office 103 may also or alternatively communicate withthe mobile devices 125 via the interface 108 and one or more of theexternal networks 109, e.g., via one or more of the wireless accesspoints 127.

The push notification server 105 may be configured to generate pushnotifications to deliver information to devices in the premises 102and/or to the mobile devices 125. The content server 106 may beconfigured to provide content to devices in the premises 102 and/or tothe mobile devices 125. This content may comprise, for example, video,audio, text, web pages, images, files, etc. The content server 106 (or,alternatively, an authentication server) may comprise software tovalidate user identities and entitlements, to locate and retrieverequested content, and/or to initiate delivery (e.g., streaming) of thecontent. The application server 107 may be configured to offer anydesired service. For example, an application server may be responsiblefor collecting, and generating a download of, information for electronicprogram guide listings. Another application server may be responsiblefor monitoring user viewing habits and collecting information from thatmonitoring for use in selecting advertisements. Yet another applicationserver may be responsible for formatting and inserting advertisements ina video stream being transmitted to devices in the premises 102 and/orto the mobile devices 125. The local office 103 may comprise additionalservers, such as the motion detection server 122 (described below),additional push, content, and/or application servers, and/or other typesof servers. Although shown separately, the push server 105, the contentserver 106, the application server 107, the motion detection server 122,and/or other server(s) may be combined. In another embodiment, insteadof a motion detection server 122, one or more of servers 105, 106, and107 may perform methods for excluding motion from a standalone motiondetection system within a premise 102 (e.g., a home). The servers 105,106, 107, and 122, and/or other servers, may be computing devices andmay comprise memory storing data and also storing computer executableinstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theserver(s) to perform steps described herein.

An example premises 102 a may comprise an interface 120. The interface120 may comprise circuitry used to communicate via the communicationlinks 101. The interface 120 may comprise a modem 110, which maycomprise transmitters and receivers used to communicate via thecommunication links 101 with the local office 103. The modem 110 maycomprise, for example, a coaxial cable modem (for coaxial cable lines ofthe communication links 101), a fiber interface node (for fiber opticlines of the communication links 101), twisted-pair telephone modem, awireless transceiver, and/or any other desired modem device. One modemis shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality of modems operating in parallel maybe implemented within the interface 120. The interface 120 may comprisea gateway 111. The modem 110 may be connected to, or be a part of, thegateway 111. The gateway 111 may be a computing device that communicateswith the modem(s) 110 to allow one or more other devices in the premises102 a to communicate with the local office 103 and/or with other devicesbeyond the local office 103 (e.g., via the local office 103 and theexternal network(s) 109). The gateway 111 may comprise a set-top box(STB), digital video recorder (DVR), a digital transport adapter (DTA),a computer server, and/or any other desired computing device.

The gateway 111 may also comprise one or more local network interfacesto communicate, via one or more local networks, with devices in thepremises 102 a. Such devices may comprise, e.g., display devices 112(e.g., televisions), STBs or DVRs 113, personal computers 114, laptopcomputers 115, wireless devices 116 (e.g., wireless routers, wirelesslaptops, notebooks, tablets and netbooks, cordless phones (e.g., DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telephone—DECT phones), mobile phones, mobiletelevisions, personal digital assistants (PDA)), landline phones 117(e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol—VoIP phones), motion detector(s) 118(“motion detector device” 118), and any other desired devices. Exampletypes of local networks comprise Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA)networks, Ethernet networks, networks communicating via Universal SerialBus (USB) interfaces, wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15,Bluetooth), networks communicating via in-premises power lines, andothers. The lines connecting the interface 120 with the other devices inthe premises 102 a may represent wired or wireless connections, as maybe appropriate for the type of local network used. One or more of thedevices at the premises 102 a may be configured to provide wirelesscommunications channels (e.g., IEEE 802.11 channels) to communicate withone or more of the mobile devices 125, which may be on- or off-premises.

The mobile devices 125, one or more of the devices in the premises 102a, and/or other devices may receive, store, output, and/or otherwise useassets. An asset may comprise a video, a game, one or more images,software, audio, text, webpage(s), and/or other content.

FIG. 2 shows hardware elements of a computing device 200 that may beused to implement any of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1 (e.g.,the mobile devices 125, any of the devices shown in the premises 102 a,any of the devices shown in the local office 103, any of the wirelessaccess points 127, any devices with the external network 109) and anyother computing devices discussed herein (e.g., motion detection server122, motion detector device 118, display device(s), content receiver(s),etc.). The computing device 200 may comprise one or more processors 201,which may execute instructions of a computer program to perform any ofthe functions described herein. The instructions may be stored in aread-only memory (ROM) 202, random access memory (RAM) 203, removablemedia 204 (e.g., a USB drive, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatiledisk (DVD)), and/or in any other type of computer-readable medium ormemory. Instructions may also be stored in an attached (or internal)hard drive 205 or other types of storage media. The computing device 200may comprise one or more output devices, such as a display device 206(e.g., an external television and/or other external or internal displaydevice) and a camera 214, and may comprise one or more output devicecontrollers 207, such as a video processor. One or more user inputdevices 208 may comprise a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen (which may be integrated with the display device 206),microphone, etc. The computing device 200 may also comprise one or morenetwork interfaces, such as a network input/output (I/O) interface 210(e.g., a network card) to communicate with an external network 209. Thenetwork I/O interface 210 may be a wired interface (e.g., electrical, RF(via coax), optical (via fiber)), a wireless interface, or a combinationof the two. The network I/O interface 210 may comprise a modemconfigured to communicate via the external network 209. The externalnetwork 209 may comprise the communication links 101 discussed above,the external network 109, an in-home network, a network provider'swireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybrid fiber/coaxial distribution system(e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any other desired network. Thecommunication device 200 may comprise a location-detecting device, suchas a global positioning system (GPS) microprocessor 211, which may beconfigured to receive and process global positioning signals anddetermine, with possible assistance from an external server and antenna,a geographic position of the communication device 200.

The computing device may be located within the premise in which themotion detector is located, and may form, be a part of, or be connectedto, the motion detector device 118. Thus, in the examples where thecomputing device comprises of the motion detector device 118, the camera214 may be used to perform functions of motion detection, takerecordings and snapshots of the field of view, mask areas of the fieldof view, and trigger alerts based on detected motion in non-maskedareas.

However, in some examples, the computing device may also form, or be apart of a remote motion detection server 122. In such examples, anetwork interface (e.g., network I/O 209) may be configured to establisha connection with one or more content receivers (e.g., set top box/DVR113) or the motion detector device 118. For purposes of clarity, themotion detection system, which includes the computing device 200, mayalso comprise one or more of the motion detector device 118 or themotion detector server 122. For example, if the computing device thatperforms methods described herein comprises of the motion detectordevice 118, but is at least partly controlled by a remote or in-premisemotion detection server 122, the motion detection system may compriseboth the motion detector device 118 and the motion detection server 122.

Using processor 201, the motion detection system, e.g., the motiondetector 118 and/or server 122, may transmit requests and other signalsto the content receiver, e.g., to play a certain multimedia content ondisplay device 206, or determine that an content receiver is playing acertain multimedia content on display device 206. For example, a motiondetector 118 at premises 102 a may cause a DVR 113 to tune to the ‘NBCNightly News’ program, or may simply determine that the DVR 113 iscurrently outputting the ‘NBC Nightly News’ program. Furthermore, thedisplay device 206 (e.g., TV screens) need not be physically connected(e.g., wired or annexed) to the motion detection system. Thus, thedisplay device may be a separate device. Additionally, in an examplewhere the motion detection system comprises both a motion detectordevice 118 controlled in at least one aspect by a motion detectionserver 122, a motion detector device 118 in a home may not necessarilybe physically connected to the motion detection server. However, themotion detector 118 may perform one or more steps of methods describedherein, or may be controlled by the motion detection server 122 toperform the one or more steps of methods described herein.

Although FIG. 2 shows an example hardware configuration, one or more ofthe elements of the computing device 200 may be implemented as softwareor a combination of hardware and software. Modifications may be made toadd, remove, combine, divide, etc. components of the computing device200. Additionally, the elements shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented usingbasic computing devices and components that have been configured toperform operations such as are described herein. For example, a memoryof the computing device 200 may store computer-executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processor 201 and/or one or more otherprocessors of the computing device 200, cause the computing device 200to perform one, some, or all of the operations described herein. Suchmemory and processor(s) may also or alternatively be implemented throughone or more Integrated Circuits (ICs). An IC may be, for example, amicroprocessor that accesses programming instructions or other datastored in a ROM and/or hardwired into the IC. For example, an IC maycomprise an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) having gatesand/or other logic dedicated to the calculations and other operationsdescribed herein. An IC may perform some operations based on executionof programming instructions read from ROM or RAM, with other operationshardwired into gates or other logic. Further, an IC may be configured tooutput image data to a display buffer.

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary field of view captured by a camera for amotion detection system described herein. The motion detection systemmay include a motion detector device 118 that detects motion based onlive imaging by a camera 214, which may be a part of or linked to themotion detection system. The field of view may comprise the scope ofvision of the camera of the device based on where the device 118 isplaced. As shown in FIG. 3A, the motion detector is situated such thatthe field of view is a living room of a home. The image of the field ofview may be processed so that various candidate display devices,including 302A and 304A, may be recognized based on shapes, aspectratios, and other image features.

For example, FIG. 3B shows another exemplary field of view for a motiondetection system identifying candidate display devices, as describedherein. As shown in FIG. 3B, the image of the field of view obtained bythe camera in FIG. 3A has been processed to reveal lines, curves, and/orshapes from the field of view. Thus, the image in FIG. 3B is asimplified version of the image from FIG. 3A. The image processing toachieve such lines, curves, and/or shapes may be performed using objectrecognition and digital image processing techniques. Also andalternatively, a motion detector system (e.g., computing device 200 ofmotion detection server 122 and/or motion detector device 118) maysearch within an image for known geometrical configurations of displaydevices. Geometrical configurations may include for example, shapes,measurements (e.g., length, width, height, angle, ratios), aspectratios, etc., of a display device. Thus, FIG. 3B shows a variety ofquadrilateral features (including display device 302B and table 304B)that may be potential candidates for display devices based on theirgeometrical configurations.

Furthermore, the known geometrical configurations of display devices maybe altered based on the position of the camera of the motion detectordevice with respect to a possible or candidate display device. Forexample, skew constraints may be determined based on the position of themotion detector system. As shown in FIG. 3B, Potential display devicesare identified that match the modified geometrical configurations basedon the skew constraints. For example, the motion detector system maydetermine that known display devices exist in rectangular shapes havingan aspect ratio of 4:3. An image of the field of view obtained from thecamera of the motion detector device may be processed to identify aplurality of quadrilateral shapes. Of the plurality of quadrilateralshapes, the motion detector system may look for those that arerectangles having an aspect ratio of 4:3. However, the motion detectormay determine skew constraints based on the position of the camera ofthe motion detector device with respect to features having thequadrilateral shapes. The motion detector system may modify ageometrical configuration for the display device it is identifying, forexample, by having an oblique quadrilateral having an aspect ratio of4:3 instead of a 90 degree rectangle.

Using the modified geometric configurations 302B and 304B, the motiondetector system may identify 302A and 304A, respectively, as potentialdisplay devices. However, as shown in FIG. 3A, only 302A is actually adisplay device (e.g., TV display), as 304A is a table. Methods describedfurther herein may be used to differentiate and/or filter through theidentified candidate display devices to determine the actual displaydevices.

After actual display devices are identified, motion detected within thedisplay device area (e.g., movies, TV shows, dynamic photos, etc.) maybe “masked,” e.g., filtered from being detected for motion, as will bediscussed further in the present disclosure.

However, while the table 304A may be determined as not being a displaydevice, the table 304A may nevertheless act as a reflective surface formotion displayed within display device 302A.

For example, FIG. 3C shows an exemplary field of view for a motiondetection system identifying masked areas. After determining that thequadrilateral 302B in FIG. 3B is indeed of a display device 302A in FIG.3A, using methods presented herein, the motion detector system may maskthe area 302C, as shown in FIG. 3C. Thus movement within the masked area302C may be filtered, protected, and/or ignored from motion detectionoperations. For example, a motion detector may be prevented from issuingalerts based on movement caused by a movie being played on the TV screen302A. Nevertheless, various methods discussed further in the disclosuremay also allow the motion detection system to also mask areas displayingmotion that is reflected from the display devices. Thus, acting as areflective surface, table 304C may also be masked. As shown in FIG. 3C,the motion detector system may indicate different categories of masks todifferentiate between an actual display device 302C from a reflectivesurface 304C. Furthermore, a display area may include portions of afield of view of a motion detector that includes display devices andreflective surfaces that may potentially reflect content shown on thedisplay devices.

FIG. 4A depicts a flow chart showing an example method 400 for excludingmotion from display devices for motion detection systems. One or moresteps of method 400 may be performed by the computing device 200 of oneor more of the motion detector device 118, motion detector server 122,another server 105, 106, and 107, and/or a remote computer systemcontrolling motion detector device 118. As described previously in thepresent disclosure, “motion detection system” may comprise any one ormore of these devices, systems, and/or servers. Furthermore, one or moresteps of method 400 may be used in the generation of masks for motiondetection. A “mask” may comprise an area of an image that may beflagged, protected, and/or filtered out of the image altogether, so asto prevent a motion detector from acting on (e.g., alerting) on anymotion detected within the masked area. A processor may “mask” an areaof an image by setting the pixel intensity values of the area as zero,and the non-masked areas as non-zero. Thus, wherever the pixel intensityvalue is zero in the masked area, the pixel intensity of the resultingmasked area of the image may be set to a background value.

The masked areas may also be flagged for further processing if desired.For example, after activating a mask and determining that a displaydevice (e.g., TV) is on, motion in the masked area may be compared withexpected images in a display device. After defining masks using method400, as depicted in FIG. 4A, one or more steps of method 450 as depictedin FIG. 4B may be used to perform motion detection routines using themask definitions, as will be described herein.

Referring to FIG. 4A, step 402 may involve starting the motion detectorsystem. This step may involve powering on one or more of the motiondetector device, a camera of the motion detector device, or a componentof the motion detector device enabling communication with the motiondetection server 122. The user of the system may place the motiondetector device and/or camera in a location that would enable the camerato capture and detect motion for a desired field of view. It is alsocontemplated that this field of view may involve display devices orreflective surfaces that may present motion (e.g., movies, TV shows,screensaver content) that the user would not like the motion detector todetect and/or issue alerts for. Starting the motion detector system mayalso involve activating the camera of the motion detector, e.g., toprepare for installation or configuration.

Step 404 may include installation or configuration of the motiondetection system. For example, the installation or configuration mayinclude receiving a command or defaulting to an operation of configuringmanually. The motion detection system may receive one or more inputs bythe user for manual configuration. These inputs may include the usermanually determining which areas to mask in the camera's field of view.For example, the user may input information identifying various displaydevices that the user owns (e.g., model, size, product information,etc.). The motion detector system may use this inputted information tolocate and/or mask pixels representing the display devices from thefield of view. The installation may involve establishing a connectionwith and/or detecting any one or more content receivers. A contentreceiver may comprise one or more devices that receives as input,content from one or more content providers or sources, and outputs imageor video data to be displayed on the display devices. The contentreceiver may additionally or alternatively output audio, e.g., to beaccompanied with the image. Thus, content receivers may include, forexample, a set top box, a TV tuner, an antenna, a digital video recorder(DVR), and the like. If the motion detection system has not received acommand for a manual configuration, the motion detection system maydetermine masks automatically using one or more steps presented furtherbelow.

Step 406 may include determining connected content receivers (e.g.,DVRs, set top boxes, TVs, etc.). For example, after detecting contentreceivers (e.g., in step 404), the motion detector system may determine,at step 406, which of the detected content receivers would be used inthe one or more steps presented herein for defining masks. In someexamples, a user may be prompted to manually confirm whether a detectedcontent receiver belongs to the user or is responsible for outputting(e.g., broadcasting, delivering content to) displays on one or moredisplay devices belonging to the user or existing in the field of viewof the motion detector camera. For example, if the motion detectordevice has access to video output ports, then it can prompt the user toprovide information on which ports are used and what display devices areconnected to the ports. If the motion detection system iscommunicatively linked, or has access to, other devices that have videooutput ports (e.g., a motion detection server at home communicating witha DVR), the same can be done for the video ports on those other devices.Similarly, if the motion detector system and/or connected devices havedisplay screens of their own (e.g., a built-in display), then the motiondetector system can communicate with the other device to determine thedetails of the display (e.g., its size, aspect ratio, etc.).

At step 408, the motion detection system may determine whether to beginmask definition. A mask definition may comprise the creation of orupdating of masked areas for a given field of view. There may be aninput, or a toggling of an option, by the user to have the motiondetection system create or update a previously existing mask definitionfor the field of view, which would prompt the motion detection system tobegin mask definition at step 408. The motion detection system may beginmask definition if it senses that the motion detector and/or camera hasa new field of view or has not yet defined any masks for that field ofview.

If the motion detection system begins mask definition, step 410 mayinclude capturing at least an image of the field of view. Metadataassociated with the captured image may be stored, and this metadata mayinclude a timestamp or other indication of the date and/or time at whichthe image of the field of view was captured.

Step 412 may include initializing a mask of a field of view. Theinitialization may involve applying default mask areas or user-definedmask areas. For example, at step 404, if the user had manually enteredcertain masks for the field of view, these masks may be entered into theinitialized mask of the field of view. In some configurations, applyingdefault mask areas may include masking artifacts caused by the motiondetector system (e.g., glitches), or masking a pre-selected zone of thefield of view. For example, the pre-selected zone may be the bottomtenth of the field of view to exclude, from motion detection, an areafrequented by household pets, automated cleaners, etc. In some examples,the initialization may involve activating a masking tool or applicationto be used in subsequent steps for masking areas of the field of viewfrom motion detection.

At step 414, the motion detection system may determine whether to detectpotential display devices via image processing. There may be an input ora toggling of an option by the user to have the motion detection systemdetect potential display devices using image processing, which wouldprompt the motion detection system to detect potential display devicesusing image processing at step 416. For example, a user may decide notto have the motion detector system detect potential display devices viaimage processing (e.g., aspect ratio), if the user wishes for the motiondetector system to rely only on the content provider(s) (e.g.,multimedia content providers (e.g., TV channel servers), stored content(e.g., default images, screensavers)) to assist in detecting displaydevices, e.g., as in step 420. A user may select this configuration, forexample, if the user is aware that display devices in the field of viewdo not fit known aspect ratios. Conversely, if the user is aware thatdisplay devices within the field of view whose geometric configurationsmay be commonly known in the industry, the motion detector system may beselected or configured to detect potential display devices via imageprocessing.

Step 416 may include using image processing to identify potentialdisplay devices (e.g., via common aspect ratios) in the field of view.Image processing may involve techniques for identifying potentialdisplay devices by transforming or recognizing one or more features fromthe received image. For example, at least some techniques may involvereceiving reference data of a plurality of aspect ratios for the shapeof display devices. This reference data may be retrieved from a databaseor memory of device 200. Also or alternatively, this reference data maybe periodically updated via market data on existing display devices. Forexample, the manufacturers or distributors for display devices or otherthird parties may have information on the visible features of commondisplay devices. Using networking I/O 209, the motion detection systemmay reach out to distant servers and computing systems of these displaydevice manufacturers or distributors to collect reference data. Thereference data may include known geometrical configurations for displaydevices, among other visible features. Geometrical configurations mayinclude, for example, shapes, measurements (e.g., length, width, height,angle, ratios), aspect ratios, etc., of a display device. For example,display devices may commonly exist as being rectangular in shape andhaving common aspect ratios for its rectangular dimensions of 4:3 or16:9.

The motion detector system may then determine a plurality of candidateshapes for display devices using the reference data. Thus, the motiondetection system may look for rectangular shapes within the field ofview having a common aspect ratio of 4:3 or 16:9. However, as wasdiscussed in the description above for FIGS. 3A-3B, rectangular shapedobjects such as display devices may inevitably appear skewed in an imagecaptured from the motion detector's perspective. Thus, even though adisplay device may actually be rectangular in an aspect ratio of 4:3, acaptured image from the motion detector camera's field of view may showa trapezoidal display device with an altered aspect ratio.

The motion detector system may overcome the limitations posed by skeweddimensions of display device and identify potential display devicesbased on reference data. For example, the motion detector system maydetermine skew constraints from the field of view of the motion detectorcamera. At least some methods for determining skew characteristics mayutilize depth recognition techniques. For example, the motion detectorsystem may cast light of a certain shape (e.g., a rectangle) with knowngeometrical configurations onto the field of view. Depending on thedepth of the field of view, the light cast may form a resulting shape(e.g., a trapezoid) that is different from the casted shape. Based onthe angles of the resulting shape's vertices or new aspect ratios of theresulting shape, the motion detector system may determine and store skewconstraints.

The motion detector system may also or additionally determine skewconstraints using known objects with known geometrical configurations(e.g., aspect ratios) that happen to be within the field of view withresulting geometrical configurations that may appear different. Forexample, the vertices of the shape of a known object displayed in thefield of view may be mapped to corners of the object as it is actuallyknown. Any differences or discrepancies may be saved and may be used toform skew constraints. The skew constraints may be used to alter and/orexpand the possibilities for aspect ratios or geometrical configurationsof known display devices in order to be able to identify the knowndisplay devices in the field of view.

Furthermore, when identifying the known display devices in the field ofview using the altered or expanded geometrical configurations as aresult of skew constraints, techniques may be used to overcome partialblocking of potential display devices. For example, if a lamp blocks aquadrilateral area pertaining to a TV, the motion detection system maybe able to still identify the TV based on an expanded aspect ratio ofthe quadrilateral. In one embodiment, a threshold may be used fordetermining boundaries for polygonal shapes. Thus, a quadrilateral (orother skewed rectangle) may be recognized from the image data, even if athreshold length of the perimeter or boundary of the quadrilateral isidentified. Then for image processing to confirm aspect ratios, themissing perimeter or boundary may be filled in.

After identifying potential display devices (e.g., using common aspectratios and other geometrical configurations), step 426 may includedetermining whether content provider(s) may be used to confirm that theidentified potential display devices are indeed display devices. Forexample, if the motion detector system, at step 416, identified arectangular window as being a potential display device as it had thesame aspect ratio as a known TV, the motion detector system may usecontent provider(s) (e.g., TV channels, stored images or videos, etc.)via content receiver(s) (e.g., set top box, DVR, input output device,etc.) to determine that the rectangular window is not actually a displaydevice. Thus, by using methods involving content provider(s) describedherein, the motion detection system may determine that the rectangularwindow need not be masked form motion detection. The decision to usecontent provider(s) to confirm may be based on an input or selection bya user to do so.

If, however, the motion detection system decides not to use contentprovider(s) to confirm, the motion detection system may add thecoordinates of the identified display devices to the mask definition ofthe field of view (e.g., as in step 428). By doing so, motion detectionsystem may exclude motion from the areas of the field of view of theidentified potential display devices in the motion detection operationsdescribed in method 450 of FIG. 4B (e.g., see A in FIG. 4A).Furthermore, the motion detector system may enable a user to simplyindicate (e.g., on a display) where the display devices (e.g., TV) areon a field of view. The motion detector system may use this inputtedinformation to confirm display devices and/or mask pixels representingthe display devices from the field of view. In doing so, the user couldalso indicate which content receivers (e.g., DVR) supplies video orimage content to the display devices (e.g., TV).

If the motion detection system had decided in step 414 to not detectpotential display devices using geometrical configurations, or if themotion detection system had decided to use content provider(s) toconfirm the identified potential display devices, step 420 may includeidentifying and/or controlling an image or audiovideo program beingoutput by the content receiver(s). The image or audiovideo program maybe part of an audiovideo file (e.g., a TV show) streamed to a contentreceiver within premise 102 a by a content provider. Also oralternatively, the image may be a frame of the audiovideo program. Theimage may also be a default image or screensaver sent to the contentreceiver by the content provider, e.g., where a content provider is astorage or a user device (e.g., a smartphone that has generated andstored photos). In some examples, the content provider, the contentreceiver, and/or display device may be a part of one device or system.

Thus, step 420A may involve sending a request to a connected contentreceiver (e.g., a set top box, DVR, etc.) to output (e.g., display) adefault image at a predetermined time. The default image may be apreconfigured image that facilitates an easy recognition by the motiondetector system if found within the field of view of the motion detectorcamera. For example, a default image may be a green screen. As part of aperiodic activity or otherwise, the motion detector system may, at step420B, capture an image of the field of view. At step 422, the motiondetector system may determine whether the output default image is foundin the field of view. For example, the motion detector system maydetermine whether the captured image (e.g., from step 420B) shows thedefault image. This may involve detecting a difference in pixels bycomparing the captured image of the field of view from step 410 with acaptured image of the field of view from step 420B. Also oralternatively, e.g., where the motion detector system periodically takesimages of the field of view, the motion detector system may detect achange in pixels as an area of the field of view becomes the defaultimage.

Also or alternatively, step 420A may involve determining, via theconnected content receiver, what content is being streamed. In suchimplementations, step 420A may occur simultaneously with the motiondetector system capturing image(s) (e.g., video stream) of the field ofview (e.g., as n step 420B). For example, a motion detector system maydetermine what multimedia content is being streamed at the moment by acontent provider. This may involve prompting the content receiver (e.g.,STB, DVR, etc.) to provide the motion detector system with access to oridentity of the streamed multimedia content. The motion detector systemmay also receive, from the content provider itself, at least an imagesequence (e.g., short video) of the streamed multimedia content itself.For example, the motion detector system may retrieve from HBO, a“current” image(s) of a movie being streamed, or tune to HBO for amoment and obtain snapshot(s) of the movie being streamed, while themotion detector system simultaneously captures an image of the field ofview from its camera. The image(s) obtained from the content provider(e.g., HBO, a user device, etc.) and the image(s) of the field of viewmay be timestamped to ensure that each set of image(s) arecontemporaneous. The content provider and/or content receiver need notprovide a full copy of the image(s) of the multimedia content beingstreamed. A color palette, a portion of the image, or a predeterminedthreshold number of pixels of an image may be sufficient for the motiondetector system.

Also or alternatively, step 420A may involve determining, via theconnected content receiver, what content was being streamed at the timeof the captured image of the field of view in steps 410 and/or step420B. The motion detector system may develop a connection with thecontent provider, or prompt the content receiver (e.g., set top box,DVR) to contact the content provider, in order to determine the contentbeing streamed. For example, if the motion detector system captured animage of the field of view at 4:50 pm EDT, the motion detector systemmay request a connected set top box to determine what content was beingtransmitted or streamed, e.g., to any display devices connected to theset top box. The set top box may determine that a TV show from HBO wasstreamed. The set top box may then obtain an image frame from HBO at4:50 pm EDT, e.g., by establishing a connection with a server of HBO.The connection may be wireless, indirect, or facilitated by a cloudprovider. The set top box, or any other content receiver, may use theimage frame at 4:50 pm EDT of the content provided and/or hosted by HBOas the output image being output by the content provider (e.g., HBO). Inanother example, a content receiver may determine that at 4:50 pm EDT, astored screensaver image would be played. In such an example, the outputimage may be the stored screensaver image. Thus, at step 422, the motiondetector system may determine whether this output image is found in theimage of the field of view, e.g., as captured in steps 410 or 420B.There may be more than one captured image, e.g., one image in step 410and another in step 420B, to be compared with more than one output imagein step 420A, e.g., to account for lag, time shifts in content,glitches, etc. Furthermore, when conducting a comparison between theoutput image with pixels of the captured image of the field of view, themotion detector system may use a threshold of similarity, or a toleranceto account for minor insignificant differences.

Using one or more of the above-described methods of retrieving an imageor audiovideo program streamed by a content provider for a multimediacontent, step 422 may involve determining whether a predeterminedquantity of the pixels of the image (e.g., of an audiovideo program) canbe found in the field of view. For example, an output image can bedeemed as found in the field of view if 75% of the pixels of the outputimage can be located within the captured image of the field of view. Byallowing for lesser than all pixels to be found, the motion detectionsystem can address possibilities where an object (e.g., a lamp)partially occludes a display device, causing less than all of the pixelsof the output image to be viewable by the motion detection camera.

If the motion detector system has already identified potential displaydevices in step 416, the motion detector system may expedite thedetermination at step 422 by comparing the output image to an image ofeach of the one or more identified potential displays in the capturedimage of the field of view. Thus, step 422 may involve conducting apixel-by-pixel comparison for each of the one or more identifiedpotential display devices to confirm which one(s) are an actual displaydevice that may be masked from motion detection operations.

A streamed content outputted by the content receiver to one or moredisplay devices may also be viewable on reflective surfaces (e.g., table304A in FIG. 3A). Furthermore an image streamed from the contentprovider or outputted from the content receiver may not necessarily befound in the field of view in the same shape, reflection and/orrotation. For example, as was discussed above, display devices that aretypically rectangular may appear in skewed quadrilateral shapes, and thecontent displayed on these display devices may also appear in suchshapes. Thus, determining whether an output image is found in the fieldof view may also include determining whether pixels (or a predeterminedquantity of pixels) of skewed, reflected, and/or rotated versions of theoutput image are found in the field of view.

If pixels (or a predetermined quantity of pixels) of the output image(or skewed, reflected, and/or rotated versions of the output image) arefound in the field of view, the motion detector system, at step 424, mayadd the coordinates of where the output image (or a predeterminedquantity of pixels of the output image) is in the field of view to themask definition of the field of view. Also or alternatively, the maskdefinition of the field of view may be updated to reflect the additionof the coordinates of where the output image was found. Also oralternatively, locational information other than coordinates may be usedto indicate where the output image is located in the field of view. Infurther implementations, in addition to or as an alternative to thelocational information of the output image within the field of view, thepixels (or the predetermined quantity of the pixels) of the output imagemay itself be added to the masked definition. Furthermore, the contentfrom the content provider and/or content receiver may be tracked so thatthe pixels for the entire sequence of frames could be masked. In suchimplementations, the mask definition may be content-specific instead oflocation-specific. For example, if an earthquake were to shift thecamera of the motion detector device, a new field of view may inevitablyresult. However, if the motion detection system has the ability to trackthe pixels, the motion detection system may quickly adjust the masks byrecognizing pixels within the field of view.

In one embodiment, if pixels of the output image (or skewed, reflected,or rotated versions of the output image) are not found in the field ofview, the motion detection system need not update the mask definitionfor the field of view. A number of possibilities may explain why anoutput image is not found in the field of view. For example, displaydevice(s) connected to the content receivers may be turned off or may belocated outside of the motion detector camera's field of view. Themotion detection system may commence motion detection operationsdescribed in method 450 of FIG. 4B (e.g., see A in FIG. 4A).

FIG. 4B depicts another flow chart showing an example method forexcluding motion from display devices for motion detection systems.Specifically, FIG. 4B shows an example method for using the masksdefined in the example method in FIG. 4A.

Step 430 may include determining whether to activate motion detection.The decision to activate motion detection may be based on an input by auser (e.g., to “arm” the motion detector), for example, when a userdeparts his or her premise. If the motion detection system is activated,step 432 may include retrieving a mask for the field of view. In oneembodiment, each field of view may have a different mask definition aseach field of view may present unique features (e.g., locations ofpotential display devices, reflective surfaces, etc.) to provide masksfor. For example, if the camera is moved to a different location, thefield of view at the new location captured may not involve the samedisplay devices or the same locations of display devices as was in theprevious location. Thus, step 432 may involve determining the currentfield of view of the motion detector camera. Furthermore, where a motiondetector system comprises of multiple cameras, there can be a differentfield of view for each camera.

After retrieving the mask definition for the field of view, the motiondetection system may, as shown in steps 434-440, engage in detectingmotion in the field of view through use of the mask(s) defined in method400 of FIG. 4A. Steps 434 through 440 may be repeated in cycles atpredefined increments of time.

For example, step 434 may include capturing an image of the field ofview, e.g., via the motion detector camera. The captured image mayinclude metadata that includes a timestamp. Based on the captured imagein step 434, the motion detection system may determine whether there ismotion in a non-masked area in step 436. A motion may be detected as atrajectory or change in pixels at one or more points of the field ofview. Thus, step 436 may include comparing the captured image of thefield of view from step 434 with a captured image of the field of viewfrom an earlier time. For example, the captured image from step 434 maybe compared with the captured image of the preceding cycle in steps 434through 440 or with the captured image of the field of view from step410 in FIG. 4A.

If the motion detection system detects motion in step 436, step 438 mayinclude flagging the detected motion. Flagging may include at leastindicating that there is a detected motion. The indication of theflagged motion can be saved, e.g., as a video or image file, into memory(e.g., ROM 202, RAM 203, Hard Drive 205, etc.). The flagging may includeissuing an alert based on the detected motion. For example, the motiondetection system may send an alert to a user device (e.g., smart phone,smart watch, etc.) of the user, or sound an alarm. In order to ensurethat the motion detection system is not hypersensitive (e.g., triggeringalerts at the slightest change in pixels), the motion detector systemmay rely on a degree of difference or a threshold of change in pixels.

In some configurations, the motion detector system may also be determinewhether there is motion in a masked area. In such configurations, ratherthan ignoring the motion, the motion detector system may invoke thecontent receiver and/or content provider to output an image of amultimedia content being streamed or transmitted e.g., similar to step420 in FIG. 4A. The motion detector may compare the image streamed fromthe content provider and/or outputted by the content receiver to animage of the masked area where the motion was detected. The image of themasked area may be a cropped image within the image of the field ofview. For the comparison, the output image may be skewed, reflected,and/or rotated, e.g., so as to match the geometric configurations of theimage of the masked area in the field of view. For example, it may bepossible for the motion detector system to have masked an area of thefield of view that was of a TV screen that happened to be running amovie, using methods presented in flowchart 400 in FIG. 4A. However, ifa bird were to fly in front of the TV, the motion detector system may beable to detect the motion by comparing captured image(s) of the maskedTV screen with the screenshot(s) of the movie being streamed at the sametime as the captured images. If a threshold quantity of pixels do notmatch, the motion detector may proceed to flag the detected motion, asin step 438 described above.

Unless the motion detection system is deactivated, e.g., at step 440,the motion detection system may continue the cycle of steps 434 through440 to perform motion detection operations. A motion detection systemmay deactivate based on a user input, or a preconfigured time,condition, or environmental cue (e.g., when the user returns home, aftersunrise, etc.).

Although examples are described above, features and/or steps of thoseexamples may be combined, divided, omitted, rearranged, revised, and/oraugmented in any desired manner. Various alterations, modifications, andimprovements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis description, though not expressly stated herein, and are intendedto be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, theforegoing description is by way of example only, and is not limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: capturing, by a computingdevice associated with a motion detector and a content receiver, animage of a field of view; determining, by the computing device and basedon object recognition, one or more candidate display areas within theimage of the field of view; determining, by the computing device, acurrent image being output by the content receiver; comparing, by thecomputing device, the current image with the captured image of the fieldof view to determine a matching portion in the captured image;generating, by the computing device and based on determining that thematching portion corresponds to the determined one or more candidatedisplay areas within the image, a mask corresponding to the field ofview, wherein the mask excludes the matching portion from motiondetection; and causing, by the computing device, motion detection usingthe field of view and the mask.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining, based on object recognition, one or more candidate displayareas within the image of the field of view further comprises:receiving, by the computing device, geometric configuration datacorresponding to a plurality of known display areas; and determining, bythe computing device, the one or more candidate display areas within theimage of the field of view using the received geometric configurationdata.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining, by thecomputing device and using the image of the field of view, skewconstraints of the field of view; and wherein the determining the one ormore candidate display areas comprises using the geometric configurationdata and the skew constraints.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: omitting, from the mask, one or more candidate display areasthat are not within the matching portion.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: causing the content receiver to output a defaultimage; and wherein the current image being output by the contentreceiver is the default image.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining the current image being output by the content receiverfurther comprises: determining, by the computing device, a current imageof an audiovideo stream being output by the content receiver.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the comparing the current image with thecaptured image of the field of view to determine the matching portion inthe captured image further comprises: determining, by the computingdevice, a skewed, reflected, or rotated version of the current image;and comparing, by the computing device, the skewed, reflected, orrotated version of the current image with the captured image of thefield of view to determine the matching portion in the captured image.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing the current image withthe captured image of the field of view to determine the matchingportion in the captured image further comprises: determining, by thecomputing device, that at least a portion of the current image is foundwithin the image of the field of view.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe causing the motion detection using the field of view and the maskfurther comprises: receiving, by the computing device, a request toactivate motion detection for the field of view; retrieving, by thecomputing device, the mask; capturing, by the computing device, one ormore images of the field of view; determining, by the computing device,that the one or more images indicate a motion that is not in the mask;and generating, by the computing device, an alert based on the indicatedmotion.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by thecomputing device, a request to manually update the mask; and updating,by the computing device, the mask after receiving one or more userinputs.
 11. A method comprising: determining, by a computing device viaa content receiver, a current image of an audiovideo program beingoutput for display; detecting, by the computing device, at least aportion of the current image of the audiovideo program within a field ofview of a motion detector; generating, by the computing device, a maskto exclude a region of the field of view comprising the at least theportion of the current image; and performing, by the computing device, amotion detection operation comprising: capturing an image of the fieldof view of the motion detector; determining that the image indicates amotion that is not in the mask; and generating an alert based on theindicated motion.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least theportion of the current image comprises at least a portion of a versionof the current image that is one or more of skewed, reflected, orrotated.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining, via thecontent receiver, the current image of the audiovideo program beingoutput for display further comprises: causing the content receiver tooutput a default image for display.
 14. The method of claim 11, whereinthe determining, via the content receiver, the current image of theaudiovideo program being output for display further comprises:determining a current image of an audiovideo program being output by thecontent receiver by determining a channel or program listing.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the computing device comprises the motiondetector.
 16. An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; andmemory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the apparatus to: capture, via a motion detector, animage of a field of view; determine, based on object recognition, one ormore candidate display areas within the image of the field of view;determine a current image being output by a content receiver; comparethe current image with the captured image of the field of view todetermine a matching portion in the captured image; generate, based ondetermining that the matching portion corresponds to the determined oneor more candidate display areas within the image, a mask correspondingto the field of view, wherein the mask excludes the matching portionfrom motion detection; and cause motion detection using the field ofview and the mask.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theapparatus to determine the one or more candidate display areas by:receiving geometric configuration data corresponding to a plurality ofknown display areas; and determining the one or more candidate displayareas within the image of the field of view using the received geometricconfiguration data.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further causethe apparatus to: determine, using the image of the field of view, skewconstraints of the field of view; and wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determinethe one or more candidate display areas by using the geometricconfiguration data and the skew constraints.
 19. The apparatus of claim16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the apparatus to: omit, from the maskcorresponding to the field of view, one or more candidate display areasthat are not within the matching portion.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors,further cause the apparatus to: cause the content receiver to output adefault image; and wherein the current image being output by the contentreceiver is the default image.
 21. The apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theapparatus to determine the current image being output by the contentreceiver by: determining a current image of an audiovideo stream beingsent from the content receiver.
 22. The apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, furthercause the apparatus to compare the current image with the captured imageof the field of view by: determining a skewed, reflected, or rotatedversion of the current image; and comparing the skewed, reflected, orrotated version of the current image with the captured image of thefield of view to determine the matching portion in the captured image.23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executedby the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to comparethe current image with the captured image of the field of view by:determining that at least a portion of the current image is found withinthe image of the field of view.
 24. The apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theapparatus to cause the motion detection by: receiving a request toactivate motion detection for the field of view; retrieving the maskcorresponding to the field of view; capturing one or more images of thefield of view; determining that the one or more images indicate a motionthat is not in the mask corresponding to the field of view; andgenerating an alert based on the indicated motion.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the apparatus to: receive a request tomanually update the mask corresponding to the field of view; and updatethe mask after receiving one or more user inputs.
 26. An apparatuscomprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructionsthat, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatusto: determine, via a content receiver, a current image of an audiovideoprogram being output for display; detect at least a portion of thecurrent image of the audiovideo program within a field of view of amotion detector; generate a mask to exclude a region of the field ofview comprising the at least the portion of the current image; andperform a motion detection operation comprising: capturing an image ofthe field of view of the motion detector; determining that the imageindicates a motion that is not in the mask; and generating an alertbased on the indicated motion.
 27. The apparatus of claim 26, whereinthe at least the portion of the current image comprises at least aportion of a version of the current image that is one or more of skewed,reflected, or rotated.
 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theapparatus to determine the current image of the audiovideo program beingoutput for display by: causing the content receiver to output a defaultimage for display.
 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theapparatus to determine the current image of the audiovideo program beingoutput for display by: determining, via the content receiver, a channelor program listing.
 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatuscomprises the motion detector.
 31. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing instructions that, when executed, cause: capturing, by acomputing device associated with a motion detector and a contentreceiver, an image of a field of view; determining, by the computingdevice and based on object recognition, one or more candidate displayareas within the image of the field of view; determining, by thecomputing device, a current image being output by the content receiver;comparing, by the computing device, the current image with the capturedimage of the field of view to determine a matching portion in thecaptured image; generating, by the computing device and based ondetermining that the matching portion corresponds to the determined oneor more candidate display areas within the image, a mask correspondingto the field of view, wherein the mask excludes the matching portionfrom motion detection; and causing, by the computing device, motiondetection using the field of view and the mask.
 32. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the determining the one or more candidate display areaswithin the image of the field of view by causing: receiving, by thecomputing device, geometric configuration data corresponding to aplurality of known display areas; and determining, by the computingdevice, the one or more candidate display areas within the image of thefield of view using the received geometric configuration data.
 33. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause: determining, by the computing deviceand using the image of the field of view, skew constraints of the fieldof view; and wherein the instructions, when executed, cause thedetermining the one or more candidate display areas by causing using thegeometric configuration data and the skew constraints.
 34. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause: omitting, from the maskcorresponding to the field of view, one or more candidate display areasthat are not within the matching portion.
 35. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause: causing the content receiver to output a default image;and wherein the current image being output by the content receiver isthe default image.
 36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 31, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the determiningthe current image being output by the content receiver by causing:determining, by the computing device, a current image of an audiovideostream being sent from the content receiver.
 37. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the comparing the current image with the captured imageof the field of view by causing: determining, by the computing device, askewed, reflected, or rotated version of the current image; andcomparing, by the computing device, the skewed, reflected, or rotatedversion of the current image with the captured image of the field ofview to determine the matching portion in the captured image.
 38. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the comparing the current image withthe captured image of the field of view by causing: determining, by thecomputing device, that at least a portion of the current image is foundwithin the image of the field of view.
 39. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the causing the motion detection using the field of viewand the mask by causing: receiving, by the computing device, a requestto activate motion detection for the field of view; retrieving, by thecomputing device, the mask corresponding to the field of view;capturing, by the computing device, one or more images of the field ofview; determining, by the computing device, that the one or more imagesindicate a motion that is not in the mask corresponding to the field ofview; and generating, by the computing device, an alert based on theindicated motion.
 40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 31, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause: receiving, bythe computing device, a request to manually update the maskcorresponding to the field of view; and updating, by the computingdevice, the mask after receiving one or more user inputs.
 41. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, whenexecuted, cause: determining, by a computing device via a contentreceiver, a current image of an audiovideo program being output fordisplay; detecting, by the computing device, at least a portion of thecurrent image of the audiovideo program within a field of view of amotion detector; generating, by the computing device, a mask to excludea region of the field of view comprising the at least the portion of thecurrent image; and performing, by the computing device, a motiondetection operation comprising: capturing an image of the field of viewof the motion detector; determining that the image indicates a motionthat is not in the mask; and generating an alert based on the indicatedmotion.
 42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41,wherein the at least the portion of the current image comprises at leasta portion of a version of the current image that is one or more ofskewed, reflected, or rotated.
 43. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 41, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause thedetermining the current image of the audiovideo program being output fordisplay by: causing the content receiver to output a default image fordisplay.
 44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the determining thecurrent image of the audiovideo program being output for display bycausing: determining a current image of an audiovideo program beingoutput by the content receiver by determining a channel or programlisting.
 45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41,wherein the computing device comprises the motion detector.